Improvement in powder-flasks



T. L. STURTEVANT.

Powder Flasks.

No. 137,332. PatentedApriH,1873.

AM. PHOTD-UHJDERAPIIIC ca m: (DKBBRIVES mousse) UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

THOMAS L. STURTEVANT, OF FRAMINGHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN POWDER-FLASKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,332, dated April 1,1873; application filed February 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS L. STURTE- VANT, of Framingham, Middlesexcounty, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in SportingPowder- Flasks, of which the following is a specification:

My present improvements are based upon a class of sporting powder-flasksin which two gates are employed, the inner one of which closes to shutthe opening into the flask simultaneously and automatically with theopening of the outer one, which allows the powder intervening betweenthe two to be discharged, and vice versa; and such improvement consistsin a peculiar construction and adaptation of the levers which actuatethe two gates, whereby, in an extremely simple, durable, and effectivemanner, I effect the alternate opening and closing of such gates,substantially as hereinafter explained.

The drawing accompanying this specification represents, in Figures 1 and2, side elevations, in Fig. 3, a horizontal section and in Fig. 4, avertical section of a powder-flask containing my improvement.

In the drawing, A denotes the body of the flask; B, its cap-plate; 0,its dischargingtube or nose; D, the outer circular sleevegage of thesame; and E, the gate, which closes the opening F at the junction of thetube and flask, the annular spring which closes the said gate beingshown at G, and the whole being arranged in the ordinary manner ofsportsmens powder-flasks.

The object of my present invention is to adapt a powder-flask mainly tothe purpose of supplying a number of cartridges or cartridge-cases withpowder in rapid succession by the employment of an additional gate, bywhich I avoid the necessity of placing the finger over the opening ofthe discharging nose or tube while the gate is being opened, as must bedone where a single gate is employed; and my improvement, as beforestated, consists in a peculiar mode of constructing and combining thelevers which actuate the two gates by forming the surfaces of the twowhich come in contact into sloping grades, whereby the openingof theinner gate effects a closing of the outer, the reverse movements of thetwo being effected by individual springs. 1

In carrying out my present purpose, I pivot at its base to one side ofthe cap-p1ate B, and immediately adjacent to the pivot a of the gate E,a lever, H, the free end of such lever extending outwardly andterminatin g at a point about opposite the end of the discharging tubeor nose (J, while to this lever H, and near its free end, I pivot agate, I, which enters a transverse slot or channel, b, out about midwaythrough the tubular gage or sleeve D, and of such a size as to fill thelatter more or less closely, the said lever H being forced outwardly toits fullest extent by means of a spring, J, secured to the cap-plate B,and pressing against it, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

The bases or heels of the gate E and lever H meet, and in order that anoutward movement of the said gate in opening may effect an inwardmovement of the free end of the lever and of the gate, and in so doingclose the outer end or mouth of the tube D, I form the interceptingfaces of the said gate and lever into Wedge shaped or obliquelyslopinggrades 0 c, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, the springs G and Jserving to return the gate and lever to their permanent positions.

In this manner I obviate the necessity of placing a finger over themouth of the nose 0, and allow of the pouring of a successive number ofcharges of powder from the flask in very rapid succession.

As the gage, tube, or sleeve 1) is movable and adjustable upon the nose0, the gate I must adapt itself to the changes in position of suchsleeve D, and for this reason I create several holes, d, in the outerend of the lever H, these holes corresponding in number and relativedistances as under with the graduated steps or notches e, 8230., of thesaid sleeve.

Claim.

The combination, with the charge-tube and lower gate E, of the uppergate I, actuated from or by gate E, to close the top of the charge-tubewhen said gate E is moved to uncover the passage leading from said tubeinto the flask, and returned to its normal position by an independentspring, J, so as to uncover the top of the chargetube when the gate Ecloses the bottom of the same, substantially as shown and set forth.

THOMAS L. STURTEVANT.

Witnesses:

W. E. BOAR-DMAN, O. B. MowRY.

